Duncan was asleep under the cable fence and got stuck. The older elephants accidentally pushed him out into no-mans land between the enclosure and the wooden visitor fence seen in the background here.

Duncan was asleep under the cable fence and got stuck. The older elephants accidentally pushed him out into no-mans land between the enclosure and the wooden visitor fence seen in the background here.

Photo: Houston Zoo

Image 2 of 17

The Houston Zoo's newest addition, two-day-old Asian elephant named Duncan, was able to appear in public for the first time next to his mother Shanti, 23, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2014, in Houston. Duncan was born Friday at 2:15 a.m. a healthy 385 pounds. Thai, the babyâÄôs father, is 48 years old. less

The Houston Zoo's newest addition, two-day-old Asian elephant named Duncan, was able to appear in public for the first time next to his mother Shanti, 23, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2014, in Houston. Duncan was born ... more

Belle and Willow took just 30 minutes to find a way out of the
enclosure, scaling the wall to roam free in a planter area above as
visitors watched on.

Belle and Willow took just 30 minutes to find a way out of the
enclosure, scaling the wall to roam free in a planter area above as
visitors watched on.

Image 8 of 17

The two were originally brought here after being orphaned in
California. They had befriended locals at a nearby bar who fed them and
kept them alive when they should still have been with their mother.

The two were originally brought here after being orphaned in
California. They had befriended locals at a nearby bar who fed them and
kept them alive when they should still have been with their mother.

Image 9 of 17

Bears have been kept in the Andean bear habitat for years with no problem. It seems staff underestimated these two as it took them just 30 minutes to find a way to scale these walls at get to the trees above.

Bears have been kept in the Andean bear habitat for years with no problem. It seems staff underestimated these two as it took them just 30 minutes to find a way to scale these walls at get to the trees above.

Image 10 of 17

Image 11 of 17

The two were originally brought here after being orphaned in
California. They had befriended locals at a nearby bar who fed them and
kept them alive when they should still have been with their mother.

The two were originally brought here after being orphaned in
California. They had befriended locals at a nearby bar who fed them and
kept them alive when they should still have been with their mother.

Image 12 of 17

Six mongooses have lived at the Houston Zoo since late last year. Photo: Houston Zoo

Six mongooses have lived at the Houston Zoo since late last year. Photo: Houston Zoo

Image 13 of 17

One mongoose remained outside its designated area March 25, 2014. OPhoto: Houston Zoo

One mongoose remained outside its designated area March 25, 2014. OPhoto: Houston Zoo

Image 14 of 17

Four of the six escapees were quickly found on March 24, 2014. Photo: Houston Zoo

Four of the six escapees were quickly found on March 24, 2014. Photo: Houston Zoo

Image 15 of 17

Image 16 of 17

Four of the six escapees were quickly found on March 24, 2014. Photo: Houston Zoo

Four of the six escapees were quickly found on March 24, 2014. Photo: Houston Zoo

Image 17 of 17

Adult elephants accidentally push new baby out of his Houston Zoo enclosure

1 / 17

Back to Gallery

He's only 7 weeks old and he's already making a break for freedom ... well sort of.

Duncan, the Houston Zoo's cute and cuddly baby elephant had a rare taste of the outside world Tuesday after his two aunties accidentally pushed him out of the elephant enclosure.

In what could easily have passed as an excellent April Fool's prank, Duncan was taking a well-earned snooze at the foot of the habitat's fence. When he woke up, he found he was trapped under cables and could not stand up.

Methai, his aunt, and Tess, the mother of his half sister, tried to nudge him to a better position only to push him out into no-man's land between the habitat fence and a second fence where guests watch them.

It all happened right before noon and was no doubt an entertaining sight for onlookers who where there enjoying some of the zoo's most active animals.

Zoo officials said they quickly got the situation under control with Duncan spending a mere 10 minutes outside his regular confines.

Footage of I-10 closed and the trafficGodofredo Vasquez, Houston Chronicle

North Texas storms continueFox4

AT&T Names First Cities to Get 5G NetworkWibbitz

Bridging police & young minority studentsFox 26 Houston

The 'Black Panther' effectFox 26 Houston

100 Boys March against violenceFox 26 Houston

Isiah Factor Uncensored celebrates crawfish seasonFox 26 Houston

NASA engineer approved for proton therapyFox 26 Houston

10 p.m. Feb. 20 FOXRAD ForecastFox 26 Houston

"In about two minutes, the keepers saw what was happening, went to the area and coaxed him to walk to an area on the east end of the small yard, which is near a location we call 'the splash'," said zoo spokesman Brian Hill via email. "It's where keepers do elephant baths outside and that's where he could get back where he belonged."

Duncan's adventure marks the the third escape at the zoo in recent months.